Day-1: Arrival – Vientiane
On arrival in Vientiane, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Time permitting, your half day city tour enables us to see the major
temples of Vientiane including the oldest, Wat Sisaket, a temple of thousands of
miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo, which
previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. We also visit Laos national
icon, That Luang Stupa, and we stop to take some pictures of the imposing
Patuxay Monument, which is Vientiane’s own Arc de Triomphe.
Overnight in Vientiane (Green Park hotel).
Day-2: Vientiane – Udomxay - Muang La (B)
Following the morning at leisure, you will be transferred to the airport for
your flight up to Udomxay. Here we have the chance to visit the intriguing
Pra Xack Kham Temple with its sacred Buddha image. The 400 years old legendary
statue is said to have many supernatural powers, and is widely worshipped among
the faithful local Buddhists. We stop in Muang La, famous for its natural hot
springs for the night. No activities are planned for the rest of the day
so you can stroll around the village or just relax at the riverside retreat
enjoying a massage or some time in the hot springs.
Overnight in Muang La resort
Day-3: Muang La – Exploration (B-L)
Today we explore the local area and undertake an easy trek around the beautiful
surrounding countryside visiting the numerous ethnic hill tribes that reside
around the area. The evening can be spent back at the resort relaxing in
the natural hot springs, taking a traditional massage and enjoying the excellent
local Lao cuisine in the restaurant.
Overnight in Muang La resort
Day-4: Muang La – Luang Prabang (B)
Todays drive south takes us through some of the most stunning mountain scenery
you will find in South East Asia, with plenty of opportunities to stop off at
the various Khmu and H’mong villages along the way. We shall reach Luang
Prabang by mid afternoon, where you have the rest of the day to relax and take
in the enchanting city. You may wish to spend the evening exploring the
local night market.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel )
Day-5: Luang Prabang –full day city tour (B)
Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, with a visit to the Royal Palace
Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then enjoy a
short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the
magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which
represents classical Laotian architecture. Today, we also visit the impressive
stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.
Following lunch, we visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’
many ethnic cultures before we head out of town to see the weaving villages of
Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. We then return to the city for a visit to
Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable
exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city
at sunset and the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous
Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by
local and hilltribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel)
Note: the Royal Palace Museum is closed on Tuesdays
Day-6: Luang Prabang –Kuang Si Waterfall and Pak Ou Caves (B)
First we visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse
offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens,
vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional
crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at
Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu
village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you
can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest
trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. This afternoon, we embark on a cruise
upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the
tranquil countryside, before reaching the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked
caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes
and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban
Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we disembark the boat
to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom,
a village famous for its hand weaving.
Overnight in Luang Prabang (The Chang Heritage hotel )
Day-7: Luang Prabang – Departure (B)
Depending on your flight, you may have time at leisure before you will be
transferred to the airport in time for your departing flight.
End of services
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